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One
At First Sight
Maybe love at first sight isn’t what we think it is. Maybe it’s recognizing a soul we loved in a past life and falling in love with them again.
– Kamand Kojouri
AMARA
I turn off the industrial vacuum cleaner and push away the sweaty tendrils of hair sticking to my forehead. My entire body hurts. Some Christmas Eve, alright.Sometimes being a business owner sucks.
My family has been operating ‘Washington Cleaners’ for two generations. The small cleaning service our grandparents’ pack passed on to our parents grew into a solid business under their care. And now my sister, Brooke, and I work hard to take our mid-sized gig to the next level. We specialize in cleaning services for high-profile clients. ‘Guaranteed discretion and impeccable service’, is our motto. And that’s how I ended up stuck with a broom and mop, my muscles reminding me I’m not twentyanymore, on Christmas Eve of all nights, in this luxurious penthouse.
Our offices are closed for the holidays, with all our employees off until the New Year. And since we can’t just hire someone off the street to cater to our exclusive clientele, Brooke and I had to fill in for last-minute requests.
It’s good to be on the field every once in a while, and take the pulse of things. And since neither one of us is mated, and our parents are away on vacation, Christmas Eve or not, we’re not missing out on any family time. But I’m dead on my feet. Lord, I don’t even remember the last time I scrubbed an entire place by myself. I’m gonna be sore for freaking days. But the penthouse looks amazing. It was absolutely gorgeous before, with its open-floor plan, ocean-view floor-to-ceiling windows, wooden floors, marble counters, plush furniture and high-end appliances. But now, to top it all, everything gleams and smells amazing.
I let out a happy sigh, gather my cleaning supplies, and stack them by the entrance. Then I grab my backpack and make my way to one of the en-suite bathrooms.
* * *
Fuck, this shower feels like a dream.Perfect temperature within seconds. And so many shower-heads that not one inch of my poor body isn’t massaged by the strong jets. The cabin is spacious enough for ten people. I’m in freaking heaven.
Once I’m done, I clean after myself and make my way to the “bedroom”, toweling off. This room by itself is larger than my entire condo. I roll my eyes.Rich people.
We’ve had this client for a few months now, but I never got a chance to see the penthouse. I’m usually stuck in the office taking care of the admin side of things, while my sister meets with our customers and manages our team.
This contract is with a fancy law firm that represents some well-known artists and athletes. They requested two last-minute Christmas Eve cleanings. The firm needs two of their clients’ places ready for next-day arrivals. Brooke is taking care of the other gig.
I slip into the set of clean clothes I brought with me, black leggings and a warm sweater, pull on my socks and sneakers, my single braids still damp from a quick conditioner-wash.
I let my eyes travel around the room. There’s a huge California-king-sized bed facing the large windows. Its bed-frame is made of sleek black lacquered wood, just like the rest of the furniture surrounding me. In one corner, there’s a cabinet filled with rows after rows of trophies and medals. All four walls display framed posters of prestigious MMA fights. I recognize the guy facing equally impressive opponents in each photo. Jin Choi, The Tiger. I’ve seen his insanely ripped body on the cover of those martial arts magazines I ogle in passing at the supermarket, and even on Sports Illustrated. The man is freaking hot. Tall, muscular, tatted. With jet black hair, dark, almond-shaped eyes, a jawline and cheekbones carved off marble, and olive skin that makes you want to lick him from head to toe. I let out a dreamy sigh and shoulder my bag, ready to leave.
But before I can lower the handle, my eyes bulge as I stare in surprise. The doorknob lowers, and the door opens. Standing there, towering over me at over six feet tall, is the fucking Tiger!
I shake my head, trying to clear my mind in case I’m having some sort of hallucination. My gaze bounces from the poster plastered to the wall at my right, to the man standing in front of me with his head slightly tilted to the side, an intrigued expression on his handsome features. He follows my gaze and when he catches my blinking stare going back and forth betweenhis face and the glossy image of him on the wall, his full lips stretch into a cocky smirk.
I clear my throat.Get yourself together, Amara!
“Mr. Choi, I’m so sorry, sir. I wasn’t expecting you to arrive today-” But before I can finish my sentence, my senses are assaulted from all sides. My nostrils flare from the intoxicating scent of rain on a stormy night. When I slowly blink, images of fat gray clouds and electricity crackling in the air flash through my mind’s eye.Lord, he smells amazing. Dangerous and hypnotic. Before I can recover from the sight or smell of him, Jin Choi speaks, sending vibrations of his smooth, low baritone through my entire body, like a slow, circular stroke directly on my clit.What’s fucking happening to me?!
“Hey,” is all he says, but his tone… that voice… It feels like a thick, warm blanket straight out of the dryer on a chilly day. When you’re snuggled up on the couch with nothing to do but leave the freezing cold outside and cozy up in the warmth of your home.
The way he sounds, the way he smells, how he freaking looks! My entire body seems to chant, “mine! Mine! Mine!”Oh My God…
I feel my knees wobble. I can barely hold myself up. But before I collapse to the ground, Jin scoops me up in his powerful arms. Despite my shock, I instinctually thread my fingers to the back of his head.Gah, his hair is so soft.His skin, velvety and warm. He feels freaking amazing! And my curves mold perfectly into his hard muscles.What is happening?!
Jin leans close to press a soft kiss to my forehead, making my skin prickle all over with incredible sensations. “I got you, baby girl.”
Baby girl? Wait, what the?!I push hard on his chest and flail my limbs till I’m standing on my own two feet again.No, no, no, no, no. Uh-huh. I am not ready for this! I have things to do.Places to go. I have no time for some alpha to come derail my plans.
I fist my hands at my sides, firm my resolve and stare him square in the eye.
“I apologize for still being here, Mr. Choi. I thought you and your crew were arriving tomorrow. I’ll see myself out. Have a pleasant stay. I hope you’re happy with the place.”
I push through, fighting my every instinct, and walk past him. But when I make it out of the bedroom, there are four other men standing in the vast open-space observing me. Did I say, men? I meant glorious adonises descended directly from Olympus!What in the actual fuck?
Hunk number two (because let’s face it, Jin will always be number one), is standing by the door. He’s a bit shorter than The Tiger, but stockier. He looks a few years older than Jin, who seems to be around my age. This guy has silver strings at his temples. His gaze is fierce and his aura is all alpha. The scent coming from him is that of a wild meadow in the early hours of the day. Fresh dew, green grass, and a soft breeze. If the smell of Jin made my throat dry with thirst, now I’m parched. His skin is a golden tan. The same rich brown color as his hair makes slashes of thick, arched brows on a face that makes me want to weep. He’s a Norse warrior, a wild barbarian marauder. He starts walking in my direction in a determined stride, and I step back, trying to escape from getting plundered. Then my back comes into contact with a warm, solid wall. I risk a look above my head and come face to face with Jin’s blinding smirk. His huge hands coming up to circle my waist in a possessive manner.
